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Ann Meekitjuk Hanson

Ann Meekitjuk Hanson, CM, journalist, broadcaster, philanthropist, commissioner of Nunavut (born 22 May 1946 in Qakutut, Northwest Territories). Hanson has spent much of her professional life in the public sector service, furthering the development of Nunavut and its people through her media and philanthropic work.

She studied community development at the Coady International Institute (St. Francis Xavier University) in the 1970s, earning a diploma in 1975. Two years later, she participated in a special course on the Arctic Environment run by the University of Windsor at Frobisher Bay (now Iqaluit). Between 1987 and 1992, while she was deputy commissioner of the Northwest Territories, she studied journalism and received a diploma in a certificate program from the Nunavut Arctic College.

Political Career

Hanson began her career in the public service in 1964, when she joined the federal government as a secretary and interpreter/translator in the office of Eugène (Gene) Rhéaume, Member of Parliament for the riding of Northwest Territories (now Nunavut). She also served as the Northwest Territories’ deputy commissioner from 1987 to 1992.

From 2005 to 2010, Hanson served as the third commissioner of Nunavut, replacing former commissioner Peter Irniq. In that role, she continued to pursue her philanthropic work and authorship in addition to her duties as the Queen’s representative in Nunavut.

Writing and Editing

Hanson was the first editor of the community newspaper Inukshuk (currently the Nunatsiaq News), founded in 1973.

In 1991, she wrote Show Me: A Young Inuk Learns How To Carve in Canada’s Arctic, a book that was published in both Inuktitut and English.

Philanthropy

Hanson is a donor to the Coady International Institute. Her family company also supports the Nunavut Media Arts Centre.

Broadcasting and Film

In the mid-1960s, Hanson joined the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, working first as a receptionist and then as an announcer and producer in Inuktitut broadcasting.